Great Gladstone Plant Fair, Saturday 13 April, 10am-4pm

The Gardening Collective (a group of Gladdy gardeners) have launched a plant fair experience in autumn when conditions are ripe for plotting, planning and planting. By Rachael Dell. Photo by Lucia Zanmonti.

Next time you’re travelling along State Highway 2 between Carterton and Masterton, lift your gaze a little towards the southeastern hills and you’ll land on the golden fields of Gladstone – or Gladdy as the locals call it.  

The small township is within the Carterton District, nestled on the Mangahuia Stream near where the Tauweru River joins the Ruamāhanga River.  Gladdy dwellers love it for its small-town hospitality and country charm – within easy reach of vineyards and eateries. The vistas are spectacular too – especially in autumn. 

What the town may lack in services, it makes up for in energy, ingenuity, and spirit.  It’s where locals band together to dream up festivals of scarecrows, wheelbarrow races, and its latest addition… debuting in April, the Great Gladstone Plant Fair.

The idea’s been dug up by The Gardening Collective (a sprinkle of Gladdy gardeners) who’ve joined forces to create a plant fair experience in autumn when conditions are ripe for plotting, planning and planting.

In naming the fair, the collective drew inspiration from ‘Great Dixter’, a historic house and garden in the UK, where, each year its annual plant fair is a destination for garden enthusiasts, and a way to support small specialist nurseries. 

The collective is hoping the fair will entice visitors over the hill. “Wairarapa offers real autumn firepower for visitors, especially those from Wellington who don't get to witness the changing seasons. Here, colours are changing on trees and vines, harvests are underway, and there's warm settled weather. This new opportunity to visit four local gardens at this special time is a wonderful new addition to our event calendar," says Barb Hyde, Destination Wairarapa's Marketing Manager.

The collective is Bron of Bloomwood Flower Design, Danny of Parkvale Gardens, a specialist perennial grower,  Luke of Longbush Cottage – recently awarded 4-stars by NZ Gardens Trust, and Renee who owns Summit Lodge – bed and breakfast accommodation set in two acres of gardens.  

Each brings their own gardening style and knowledge – and the fair is a chance to explore their gardens, meet the growers and buy hard-to-find plants grown for Wairarapa conditions. It’s also an excellent chance to tap into their collective wisdom with recommendations for tricky garden spots.

In describing Longbush Cottage, Luke says “In my heart I wanted to recreate the atmosphere from my North Canterbury childhood where my mother and her friends all had big country gardens.” Inspired by European gardens, his modern cottage garden blends roses, peonies and lupins with NZ natives and grasses.  On fair day Luke will have several stalls and tasty seasonal refreshments from Anderson Street Kitchen.  

Up the road from Longbush, Bron’s garden has evolved naturally from her floristry business. Her design blends formal, cottage and practical areas for cutting flowers. She grows for foliage too – for bridal bouquets and displays. On plant fair day she’ll be supported by other growers including Piwakwaka Plants, Martinborough Manor Flower Farm and a local craftsman who makes garden art from wine barrels.   

The gardens of Summit Lodge were planted 15 years ago and mix natives and mediterranean style plantings to suit Gladstone’s dry climate. Renee, also an ED nurse at Masterton Hospital, purchased the property in October 2022 and has been steadily transforming it ever since.  Reclaiming the garden has been a key focus and it’s now taking on a new lease of life. Mature native plantings enclose the space and there are peaceful walkways to meander. Propagated plants will be for sale on fair day, and in support will be local grower Louisa Shannon with an array of cottage garden perennials and roses, plus Wainuioru School’s native nursery.    

Danny of Parkvale Gardens is on the outskirts of Gladstone. Rare and unusual perennials are his specialty. These are plants that recede to their roots in winter to regrow, flower and seed for several more years. Opening for the first time, he’s keen to show visitors how to plant for resilience with naturalistic plantings.

Great Gladstone Fair is on Saturday 13 April, 10am-4pm. Tickets are $35 + booking fees, from iTicket and iSites. A ticket provides entry into four gardens and their nurseries.